FITA helps you find
service providers for:


flag Canada Canada: Operating a Business

Setting Up a Company | The Active Population in Figures | Working Conditions | Cost of Labor | Social Partners

Setting Up a Company

Legal Business Entities

Types of Companies and Capital (Max/Min) Number of Partners/Shareholders and Liability
One man business.
 
No minimum capital.
1 person.
 
Liable for all debts and obligations.
Partnership
 
Personal investment
2 persons or more
 
Personally liable for all the debts and obligations of the company.
Limited liability partnership
 
Personal investment
2 persons and more
 
Unlimited for general partners and limited for limited partners
A Corporation is a private joint-stock company identified by Ltd or Inc or Co. Public or Private.
 
No minimum capital
One or more
 
Limited to share capital for all shareholders
State owned company, the shares are public
 
No minimum capital.
Investing partners
 
Limited liability. Not liable for the debts, obligations or acts of the company..
Private company majority of shareholders Canadian
 
No minimum capital.
No minimum.
 
Limited liability. Not liable for the debts, obligations or acts of the company. Cannot sell shares or securities to the general public.
Cooperative
 
No minimum capital.
Managed by members
 
Limited liability.
Limited partnership
 
No minimum
persons financially involved
 
The liability of the silent partner to the company and creditors is limited to the amount of capital he invested.
 
The Competent Organization
Registering a company can be done through the office of a notary or a lawyer. Each province has a provincial or regional office to make registering easier. Numbered companies are registered within 10 days. In Quebec this is the department of the Enterprise Registrar.
Search a Company or a Financial Report
COCANADA
 
Setting Up a Company Canada OECD
Procedures (number) 1.0 5.6
Time (days) 5.0 13.8

Source: Doing Business.

 
Business Setup Procedures
Consult Doing Business Website, to know about procedures to start a Business in Canada.
Canada Business

Return to top

The Active Population in Figures

2010
Labor Force 18,590,000

Source: CIA - The world factbook

 
20092010
Total activity rate -67.80%
Men activity rate 73.00%-
Women activity rate 62.70%-

Source: UN - United Nations

 
Employed Persons, by Occupation (% of Total Labor Force)
Management 10.4%
Business, finance and administration 17.5%
Natural and applied sciences and similar professions 6.4%
Health sector 5.2%
Social sciences, teaching, public adminstration and religion 6.8%
Arts, culture, sport and leisure 2.8%
Sales and services 24.5%
Trades, transport and machinery 14.1%
Professions proper to the primary sector 4.3%
Processing, manufacturing and public services 7.7%

Source: Statistics Canada

 
For Further Statistics
Statistics Canada
For Further Information About the Labor Market
Quebec Ministry of Labour
Ontario Ministry of Labour

Return to top

Working Conditions

Legal Weekly Duration
Normal hours of work are eight hours per day and 40 hours per week. The maximum weekly working time is 48 hours.
Retirement Age
The Canadian government removed the age of mandatory retirement in December 2011. All Canadian provinces, with the exception of a few thousand public employees in New Brunswick, have abolished the mandatory departure in retirement. Officials and employees of enterprises under federal jurisdiction can now retire at age 70, or even later if they wish. Workers who stop at age 70 (instead of 65 years ago) receive 42% more from the Canadian Pension Plan, the public pension.
Working Contracts
Federal provisions govern contracts of employment in Canada. The Government of Canada has established minimum standards for employment in Part III of the Canada Labour Code, including the minimum wage, annual leave, public holidays, bereavement leave, etc. Collective agreements and individual negotiations supplement these provisions. In addition, each province has its own rules of labor law.

Return to top

Cost of Labor

Minimum Wage
The minimum wage in Canada varies by province:
Alberta : 9.40 CAD
British Columbia : 9.50 CAD
Manitoba : 10 CAD
New Brunswick : 10 CAD
Newfoundland : 10 CAD
Northwest Territories : 10 CAD
Nova Scotia : 10.15 CAD
Nunavut : 11 CAD
Ontario : 10.25 CAD
Prince Edward Island : 10 CAD
Quebec : 9.65 CAD
Saskatchewan : 9.50 CAD
Yukon : 9.27 CAD
Average Wage
CAD 46,550
Social contributions
Social Security Contributions Paid By Employers: Employment insurance EI (1.4% up to 584 USD in Quebec and 720 USD for the other provinces), Health insurance RAMQ (2.7%), Canada Pension Plan CPP - QPP (4.95%), Quebec Parental Insurance Plan RQAP (0.583% for the employer).
The rate of health insurance varies according to the province.
Social Security Contributions Paid By Employees: Employment insurance EI (1.46% up to 584 USD in Quebec and 720 USD for the other provinces), Canada Pension Plan CPP - QPP (4.95%), Quebec Parental Insurance Plan RQAP (0.416%)
The rate of health insurance varies according to the province.

Return to top

Social Partners

Social Dialogue and Involvement of Social Partners
The labour organizations and trade unions are very strong and well structured in Canada. Quebec is the most unionized province.
Unions
FTQ - Quebec workers federation
CSN - Canada national federation of labour organizations and trade unions
CLC-CTC - Canadian Labour Congress
NUPGE - National Union of Public and General Employees
TCA-CAW - Canada Automobile Workers Union
CUPE - Canadian Union of Public Employees
Unionization Rate
22.9 % of part-time workers, 31.2% of full-time workers, 30.2 % of permanent workers, 25.8 % of non-permanent workers. These rates have dropped in companies of less than 20 employees and in those of 100 to 500 employees. On the other hand, they have risen in establishments of more than 500 employees and those of 20 to 99 employees.
Labor Regulation Bodies
Human Resources and Social Development Canada

Return to top

Any Comments About This Content? Report It to Us.

 
 
Learn more about Operating a Business in Canada on Globaltrade.net, the Directory for International Trade Service Providers.
 

© Export Entreprises SA, All Rights Reserved.
Last Updates: May 2012